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13 Revie Review

Unit 13 Review

Unit 13

  • I CAN review past modals of deduction, cleft sentences, and reporting language
Unit 13 Review
Lesson Review

Lesson Review

15 cards

This unit has looked at three advanced areas of English that help you speak and write with greater precision and style. Let's bring them together in one review.

Past modals of deduction are used when we look back at a past situation and make a logical guess about what happened. The pattern is modal + have + past participle. The choice of modal depends on how certain we feel:

  • must have + past participle → we feel almost certain it happened
  • can't have / couldn't have + past participle → we feel almost certain it did NOT happen
  • may have / might have / could have + past participle → we think it is possible, but we are not sure
  • should have / ought to have + past participle → we expected it to happen, but it didn't

Examples: Look at the wet carpet — someone must have spilled the tea. She can't have forgotten; I reminded her twice. He may have taken the wrong bus, so he's late.

Certainty Form Example
almost certain (positive) must have They must have left already.
almost certain (negative) can't have They can't have left — the car is here.
possible may / might / could have They may have left.
expected (didn't happen) should have They should have told us.

Cleft sentences change the focus of a sentence. In English we can move information to the front using structures such as:

  • What + clause + is/was + focused information (Wh-cleft)
  • It + be + focused information + that / who (It-cleft)
  • All + clause + is/was + verb (All-cleft)
  • The thing / One thing + clause + is/was + … (Thing-cleft)

These are useful in writing because they let you highlight exactly the point you want the reader to notice. Examples: What* I really wanted was a quiet evening at home. It was the traffic that made us late. All I did was apologise. The thing that annoys me is* the noise.

Reporting language allows us to report what someone said without using direct speech. Different reporting verbs take different patterns:

  • say + (that) clause
  • tell + person + (that) clause
  • ask + person + if / wh- clause
  • warn + person + not to / that
  • explain + (to person) + that / wh- clause
  • admit + (that) / to -ing
  • deny + -ing / that
  • suggest + -ing / that
  • complain + (that) / about
  • claim + (that)

When we report, tenses usually move one step back (present → past, will → would), pronouns and time references change, and questions become statements. Examples: She said (that) she was tired. He asked me if I would help him. She warned me not to touch it.

Writing task: A short article for a student magazine

Write a short article (around 150–180 words) for the student magazine about a moment when something unexpected happened to you or someone you know. Use at least two past modals of deduction to make guesses about what happened, one cleft sentence to highlight the most surprising part, and three or more reporting verbs to include what other people said about the event.

Using paragraphs and topic sentences

In a short article, each paragraph should carry one clear idea. Open each paragraph with a topic sentence that tells the reader the main point, keep supporting details and examples in the middle, and finish with a closing sentence that links back to the topic. This helps the reader follow your ideas and makes your writing feel organised and easy to read.

Generating translation…

Required

Look at the muddy footprints by the door. Someone ___ (must / can't / might) have walked through the garden.

Required

Your friend says: 'You can't have finished the report so soon!' What does the speaker mean?

  • I'm almost sure you didn't finish it.
  • I think you possibly finished it.
  • You should finish it as soon as possible.
Required

Drag the correct past modal into each sentence to make a logical guess about what happened.

  • can't have
  • should have
  • must have
  • might have

Someone opened the window — the papers are on the floor.

She heard the bell — she was in the shower.

He forgotten about the meeting again.

They told us they were going to be late.

Required

Which type of cleft sentence is: 'What I really wanted was a quiet evening at home.'?

  • It-cleft
  • Wh-cleft
  • All-cleft
Required

Complete the It-cleft: 'It ___ (was / is) the noise that kept me awake.'

Required

Sort each sentence starter into the correct type of cleft.

  • What I really wanted
  • What happened next
  • What matters most
  • It was the noise
  • It is the price
  • It was John who
  • All I did was
  • All we need is
  • All she wants is

Wh-cleft

It-cleft

All-cleft

Required

Put the words in order to make a reported sentence.

  1. told
  2. me
  3. that
  4. he
  5. was
  6. tired
  7. He
Required

Match each reporting verb with the correct grammatical pattern that follows it.

Match each reporting verb with the correct grammatical pattern that follows it.

  • ask
  • warn
  • explain
  • admit
  • deny
  • suggest
  • if / wh-
  • not to
  • to + person + how
  • to + -ing
  • + -ing
  • + that
Required

Read the sentence: 'She warned me not to touch the door.' Which reporting verb is used here?

  • said
  • told
  • warned
  • explained
Required

Read the sentence aloud with clear stress on 'can't have'. Notice how your voice naturally falls on the modal.

The lights are still on, so they can't have gone to bed yet.

PREPARE — gather your ideas

Before you write, take a few minutes to plan. Choose a real or imagined moment when something unexpected happened. Make two or three past modal deductions (for example: what do you think really happened?). Write down the most surprising detail — this will become your cleft sentence. List three or four things different people said and the reporting verbs you will use. Finally, plan two short paragraphs: one for the event itself, one for people's reactions.

WRITE — the article

Write 150–180 words for the student magazine. Use at least:

  • two past modals of deduction
  • one cleft sentence
  • three reporting verbs (for example: said, told, asked, warned, explained, admitted, denied, suggested)

Paragraph 1: describe the event and your guesses about what happened. Paragraph 2: report what other people said and how you felt.

REVIEW — check your writing

Read your article again and check the following points:

  • Are all past modals of deduction in the form modal + have + past participle?
  • Is your cleft sentence grammatically complete (correct subject, verb and focused element)?
  • Have you backshifted tenses in your reported speech (present → past, will → would)?
  • Have you changed pronouns and time references (for example: 'the next day' instead of 'tomorrow')?
  • Are paragraphs separated, and does each one focus on one clear idea?
Required